View full sizeIsrael Leal, The Associated PressPeople survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ernesto after it made landfall overnight in Mahahual, near Chetumal, Mexico.

Tropical Storm Ernesto is centered at latitude 18.9 north and longitude 91.5 west, about 30 miles northeast of Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. It has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving west at 13 mph. Its minimum central pressure is 995 millibars or 29.38 inches.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Mexico from Barra de Nautla to Coatzacoalcos. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Gulf coast of Mexico from Celestun to Barra de Nautla.

The center of Tropical Storm Ernesto will move over the extreme southern Bay of Campeche tonight and early Thursday, and approach the Gulf coast of Mexico later Thursday. Some strengthening is forecast tonight and early Thursday. Weakening is expected after the center moves over land later on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Ernesto

Ernesto is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximums of 13 inches over the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz. Ernesto is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over northern Belize, northern Guatemala and the southern Yucatan peninsula.